Center for Integrative Imaging, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China.
Neurosci Bull. 2012 Aug;28(4):321-32. doi: 10.1007/s12264-012-1249-z.
Neuronal synapses are functional nodes in neural circuits. Their organization and activity define an individual's level of intelligence, emotional state and mental health. Changes in the structure and efficacy of synapses are the biological basis of learning and memory. However, investigation of the molecular architecture of synapses has been impeded by the lack of efficient techniques with sufficient resolution. Recent developments in state-of-the-art nano-imaging techniques have opened up a new window for dissecting the molecular organization of neuronal synapses with unprecedented resolution. Here, we review recent technological advances in nano-imaging techniques as well as their applications to the study of synapses, emphasizing super-resolution light microscopy and 3-dimensional electron tomography.
神经元突触是神经回路中的功能节点。它们的组织和活动决定了个体的智力水平、情绪状态和心理健康。突触结构和功能的变化是学习和记忆的生物学基础。然而，由于缺乏具有足够分辨率的有效技术，突触的分子结构研究一直受到阻碍。最新的先进纳米成像技术的发展为以空前的分辨率剖析神经元突触的分子组织开辟了一个新的窗口。在这里，我们回顾了纳米成像技术的最新技术进展及其在突触研究中的应用，强调了超分辨率荧光显微镜和三维电子断层扫描。
